From the world’s best family friendly animation to the world’s most dysfunctional Thanksgiving, the Columbus International Film and Video Festival, now in its 63rd year, delivers an eclectic mix of independent films sure to entertain, educate and inspire.
This year’s line-up features independent films starring James Franco, Oscar Issac, Amber Heard and Marc Wahlberg. The festival will also feature award-winning documentaries like Sundance Jury Prize winner, Western, by Ohio born filmmakers Bill and Turner Ross, and new visions such as Trey Edward Shults’ Krisha, which won the SXSW Grand Jury Prize and Embers, a film that Eric Kohn from Indiewire proclaimed the sci-fi not to miss this fall.
The CIFVF has a strong annual LGBT presence thanks to the “festival within a festival” the LGBT fest sponsored by Stonewall Columbus. This year, the LGBT fest will screen Akron a film shot in Akron, Ohio that has been winning awards across the country, Upstairs Inferno, a powerful documentary about the largest gay mass murder in US history and Tomgirl, the story of Jake, a lovable gender non-conforming seven year- old, who invites us into his world to explore the transforming power that love and support can have when young children are accepted for who they really are.
In addition to the films, there are several events that are unique to the festival. On November 6, The Vanderelli Room will host a projection gallery of experimental films along with a gallery featuring local artwork. On November 7 the CIFVF will bring Saturday Morning Cartoons for Kids to the Drexel. Featuring animation from Russia, France, Japan, and Columbus, Ohio, this family friendly set of animation is free for kids 12 and under.
Finally, the festival will end on November 14 with the closing night film, Western, followed by a networking wrap party intended to give artists and festival participants a change to discuss the work presented this year.
For information on event times and locations visit columbusfilmfestival.org.
GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.